Jingoji temple

Jingoji is a temple of Shingon Buddhism.
It is in the mountain located about 15 km northwest of central Kyoto.

The original temple was built in the late 8th century.
High priest Kuukai (774-835), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, was
lived in the temple for a period of time before he founded Kongobuji
temple in Mount Koya.
And high priest Saicho (767-822), the founder od Tendai Buddhism, also
lectured here.
So this temple has been an important one in the history of Japanese
Buddhism.

Since 824, this temple had been protected by the government.
Formally, it is regarded as the foundation of this temple.

The temple is on the mountainside of Mount Takao.
To visit the temple, we walk up along the long and steep approach.
In the precincts, there are several buildings.
Roumon gate, Bishamondo temple, Godaido temple and Shoro (Bell tower)
were rebuilt in 1623.
Kondo hall and two-story pagoda were built in 1934. In these buildings,
there are some Buddha statues designated as national treasures.

The admission fee to this temple is 500 yen.

Takao district around this temple is famous for the beautiful colored
leaves in Japan.

How to get to here

By route
bus (Kyoto municipal bus)

By route bus with route No. 8, about 50 minutes from Shijo-Karasuma to
Takao terminal stop.
At Shijo-Karasuma, there are the stations of subway and Hankyu Line.

By route
bus (JR bus)

By route bus to Shuzan, about 47 minutes from Kyoto station to
Yamashito-Takao stop.